§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 28 November (WA 66) concerning the chief executive of the Irish Language Agency, what was the memorandum from a government lawyer to the British Joint Secretary of the North/South Ministerial Council of 8 July; whether they received legal opinions authorised by Tha Boord o Ulstèr-Scotch dated 24 April, 21 May and 22 June; whether these and any other opinions can be placed in the Library of the House; and why these were not referred to in the answer. [HL393]
§ Lord Williams of MostynThe legal opinions referred to were taken on behalf of or supplied to the devolved administration and the present Government are not privy to that information.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they consider that the recent appointment of a chief executive of the Irish Language Agency, for which proficiency in Irish was a requirement, discriminates against the unionist community in Northern Ireland who do not learn Irish; and, as the agency operates in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland with offices in both, which employment laws apply and why. [HL415]
§ Lord Williams of MostynThe requirement to have a proficiency in the Irish language may have had a disproportionate impact on the Protestant community in Northern Ireland. The requirement was, however justified because the working language of the Irish Language Agency is Irish and there was therefore, a business need for this. As the work of the chief executive of the Irish Language Agency is carried out wholly or mainly outside Northern Ireland, the employment laws of Northern Ireland do not apply to the appointment; the employment law of the Republc of Ireland would apply to the post.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Irish Language Agency has recruited employees for its offices in Northern Ireland; whether Irish language proficiency was a requirement; if so, why; and under what equality law they were recruited. [HL633]
§ Lord Williams of MostynNo employees have been recruited as yet. The Irish Language Agency is in the process of obtaining the necessary approvals to allow it to recruit staff for the Belfast office. A proficiency in the Irish language will be required because the working language of the agency is Irish. As the work of these officials will be carried out wholly or mainly in Northern Irleand the equality laws of Northern Ireland will apply to the recruitment process.